James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2014

BZ5008 - Adaptation to Environmental Change

Credit points: 03
Year: 2014
Student Contribution Band: Band 2
Administered by: School of Marine & Tropical Biology (pre 2015)

Available to students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Research Methods, Master of Applied Science, Graduate Diploma of Science, Graduate Certificate of Science, Graduate Certificate of Development Practice, Graduate Diploma of Development Practice, Master of Science or Masters of Development Practice.

Organisms have evolved an astonishing diversity of form and function over the long evolution of life. Nowhere is such diversity most on display than in the tropics. Yet not all conceivable possibilities of organism form are physically possible or explored. In this subject, our theme is to explore and understand the fundamental constraints imposed by the environments that Life inhabits as well as how key processes within plants and animals themselves have shaped the evolution of the modern biosphere. We will look at rise and diversification of key plant/animal adaptations in conjunction with their functions in Life's two key media: air and water.

Learning Outcomes

Assumed
Knowledge:
Students enrolling in this subject should have an undergraduate degree in biology or have acquired equivalent knowledge through other study. They should have a good background in organismal biology (BZ1007) and an ability to conduct simple statistical analyses in practical reports.
Inadmissible
Subject
Combinations:
BZ2008 BZ2808 BZ5808 ZL2008 ZL5008

Availabilities

Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 28-Aug-2014
Coordinator: Dr Taylor Feild
Contact hours:
  • 26 hours lectures
  • 4 hours tutorials
    Assessment:quizzes or tests (25%); practical reports (50%); take home exam (25%).

    Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.